Loveland community has calm discussion on gun control

More than two dozen people of varying ages and backgrounds picked a corner that represented a side in one of society's hottest debates Sunday night at the Lifetree Café at Group Publishing in Loveland.

But they weren't there long, standing underneath a sticker that read "guns don't kill people, people kill people" or "criminals love gun control, it makes their jobs easier." They quickly joined at tables with those from other corners, shared a cup of coffee or two and had a discussion about their viewpoints.

"Our goal is not to solve gun control in America but to have a civil conversation about it," said Mikal Keefer, who hosted the first of four Lifetree Café events called "Inside the Gun Debate: To hunt? To defend? To assault?"

The topic, which has recently dominated headlines in the wake of December's Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut, brought out those who frequent Lifetree Café events and those who attended for the first time.

The events are designed to offer that balance and show every side of the debate, Keefer said. "Inside the Gun Debate" featured filmed interviews with two men whose opinions on gun control had been shaped by their life experiences.

Tom Mauser spoke about the gun law loopholes that factored into the Columbine High School shooting, where his son Daniel was killed. Loveland resident Michael Lang, a concealed weapon firearms instructor, spoke about instances where his weapon saved his life and protected his family.

"It's about being able to defend yourselves," Lang said in the video.

While Mauser lobbied for stronger gun control legislation and Lang advocated for Second Amendment rights, Lifetree Café attendees had opinions that similarly represented both sides of the scale.

David Hallet, drawing on his experiences in the Navy, told the crowd why he stood underneath a sign saying you "don't need assault rifles to shoot a duck."

"I have seen what a bullet does to a human being," he said. "In our world, we've lost our focus of what's important."

Dick Smeeding, who shared a table with Hallet, stood under the sign of "guns don't kill people, people kill people."

"There's been a loss of respect for people to people," he said.

Loveland City Councilor Joan Shaffer said "Inside the Gun Debate" was her first Lifetree Café event and she had looked forward to hearing the community's viewpoints.

"I like the idea of having a variety of these discussion opportunities throughout the community," she said.

After the program ended, most stayed seated to continue their discussions, seeing as they were all united in Keefer's survey of people who wanted a more peaceful world.

"There's probably more that we agree on than disagree on," Keefer said.

Lifetree Café's "Inside the Gun Debate" event will be held at Group Publishing, 1515 Cascade Drive, Tuesday at noon and 7 p.m. and Thursday at noon.

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